About

Discover the history, values and commitments of President Electronics: world leader in CB radio technology.

The group

The PRESIDENT name is closely linked to the CB radio world. More than a name, PRESIDENT is the representative of the Citizen's Band which unites millions of CB users all over the world: drivers, purists and technology fans.

The President Electronics Group has been a global leader in the Citizen's Band (CB) radio market for many decades. The company was founded in 1978 and quickly established itself as one of the world's leading CB radio manufacturers. President Electronics is recognized for the quality and reliability of its products, which are distributed in many countries around the world.

Over time, the company continued expanding its product range and improving the quality of its existing products. This has led to the creation of the high-quality family of products, ranging from the simplest CB radios to the most advanced models with a wide variety of features.

Today, President Electronics continues to adapt to the changing needs of its customers and to evolve according to market trends, while maintaining a commitment to the quality and reliability of its products.

Here are a few significant dates and events of the international development of PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS:

  1. 1969

    Claude and Lysiane Schmitz founded their first radiocommunication company in Paris (France).

  2. 1973

    Albert Bertrana, Director of Technical Development, joined the company in Paris.

  3. 1975

    Creation of the first microphone manufacturing plant (SADELTA) in Barcelona, Spain.

  4. 1976

    First import into Europe of the trademark of the United States.

  5. 1978

    Creation of the first head office of PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS (GPE) in Balaruc (South of France).

  6. 1979

    Creation of the first subsidiary PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS IBERICA in Barcelona (Spain).

  7. 1980

    Beginning of the distribution of the PRESIDENT brand in Europe.

  8. 1982

    Production of the first antennas PRESIDENT by GPE IBERICA

  9. 1988

    Construction of the new headquarters of GPE, a state-of-the-art design, located in front of the pond of Thau (Sète) on a plot of 10ha and an area of 12.000m2

  10. 1990

    GPE's first sales record: over 1 million CB radios sold in 12 months.

  11. 1991

    The production of PRESIDENT’s antennas exceeds 2 million units per year.

  12. 1992

    Creation of the subsidiary PRESIDENT POLAND in Czestochowa (Poland).

  13. 1994

    Marketing of the first multi-channel CB radio stations PRESIDENT JAMES and PRESIDENT GEORGE in Europe.

  14. 1995

    Acquisition of STABO subsidiary in Hildesheim, Germany.

  15. 1996

    CSA Global Invention and Patent (Automatic Squelch Control) by Albert Bertrana.

  16. 2006

    Establishment of the subsidiary PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS UKRAINE in Kiev, Ukraine.

  17. 2008

    Creation of the subsidiary GROUPE PRESIDENT BALTIC in Lithuania.

  18. 2010

    Creation of the GROUP PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS INDIA in New Delhi, India.

  19. 2014

    Opening of the subsidiary PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS CZECH in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

  20. 2015

    Creation of the subsidiary CI-BI RADIO BEL in Minsk, Belarus.

  21. 2016

    PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS USA opened its doors in Naples, Florida for direct distribution on the continent of North America.

  22. 2022

    Introducing the first fully digital noise-reducing microphone.

  23. Today

    PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS is a company recognized for the quality of its electronic products and its ability to meet the needs of the customers. It successfully continues to offer innovative products to the world of radiocommunication.

The head office of President Electronics is located opposite the Thau Pond on a vast plot of 10 hectares. This ultra-modern office building, designed with a state-of-the-art, sober and harmonious lines, fits perfectly to its environment. It brings together all the key functions of the company including administrative offices, the warehouse and after-sales service, all on a total surface area of 12,000 square meters.

The structure of the President Electronics group is organized to offer optimal working conditions for its staff, while meeting the growing demands of the international market. The company's management has surrounded itself with a high-performance team to meet the needs of a constantly evolving sector. This efficient organization is reflected in the image of the company as a strong entity, capable of meeting market challenges.

Our company, the President Electronics Group, is a world leader in the production and distribution of high-quality radio equipment. We are proud to provide our customers with innovative and reliable products to meet their communication needs. We are committed to offering cutting-edge technology that meets the highest demands in terms of performance and quality.

In addition to its main business of producing CB radios, President Electronics partcipates in various research and development projects to improve its products and provide cutting-edge technology to its customers. The company invests in research to develop even more innovative technologies for its range of high-quality products.

President Electronics is also involved in social and environmental responsibility initiatives. We believe it is important to minimize our impact on the environment and to promote responsible use of our products.

Over the years, President Electronics has developed an international reputation for its reliable, efficient and safe products. It is by being faithful to these values that we have managed to establish ourselves as a leading company in the global CB radio market. We continue to expand our presence in the world by developing subsidiaries abroad. Trust us to equip you with the quality communication equipment for all your professional and personal needs.

At GROUPE PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS, we consider our employees as the heart of our success. Each individual who joins our team brings a wealth of experience, skills and dedication, thus contributing to the development of our company.
Beyond professional skills, we value the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives within our team. This diversity creates a dynamic and stimulating environment that is conducive to innovation and collaboration.
We firmly believe that the success of our company is based on the well-being, commitment and development of each of our employees. This is why we invest in ongoing training programs and opportunities for professional progress.

 

Join us in this adventure where each member of our team plays an essential role in the construction of the future of GROUP PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS.

See our job offers

Our sales network

The distribution network of PRESIDENT products, affiliated group.

Locations, phone numbers and e-mail contacts.

The CB radio

"Cibi" is the pronunciation of the CB acronym, used by the Americans to designate the Citizen-Band or citizen band.

The CB is a radio communication system that was created in the United States in the 1950s. It was designed to allow individuals to communicate with each other without having to pass through a professional telecommunications operator. This strip of left-free frequencies was used mainly by U.S. truckers to break the monotony of long routes and help each other. This gave rise to a spirit of solidarity that has always characterized this form of communication.

At the beginning, its use was mainly the fact of road vehicles which, by introducing its principle, also created a specific language based on amercanisms, contractions of words and coded expressions. The CB was successful in the 70s, when many truck and car drivers adopted this form of communication to exchange information on traffic conditions and on rest areas. It has become popular thanks to its simplicity of use and its low cost, and is used by many people to communicate with each other and to exchange information on various topics.

Over the years, the CB is also increasingly used for rescue and emergency communications, as well as for leisure activities, such as bird watching or hunting. It is also used by professionals from various sectors, such as police officers, firefighters and doctors, to communicate with each other and to exchange important information. The CB remains a popular form of communication for many individuals and professionals around the world. President Electronics is one of the world's leading CB radio manufacturers, recognized for the quality and reliability of its products.

The CB radio is a versatile communication tool that offers many benefits for users. It allows you to receive and send messages free of charge, and allows several people to communicate together on the same channel. This characteristic is at the very basis of the cibist spirit and promotes conviviality and openness to others. Unlike the phone that works in duplex mode, conversations are done in simplex mode, so it is necessary to wait for the end of the message of your correspondent before being able to send your own.

CB radio is a wireless communication system for personal and recreational use. It is composed of a portable transceiver, installed in a vehicle or in a fixed location, which allows to transmit and receive messages on radio frequencies reserved for citizens. In general, CB radios are used to communicate at short distances, usually less than 50 km, but they can reach greater distances depending on the environment, the choice of equipment and its quality. CB radios are particularly popular with truck and RV drivers, who often use them to communicate with each other during long trips. CB radio is also used by people working in emergency and security services, as well as by other professionals who need to remain in contact with their team. By combining the advantages of group communication with portability and ease of use, CB radio is an indispensable tool for people seeking to stay connected in a mobile environment.

The CB Radio is a means of communication accessible to all, without license or professional operator, which offers a wide variety of possibilities of use, from leisure to safety and all this in a user-friendly manner.

CB radio is a versatile communication tool that helps people to connect to each other in different situations. It is used for both business and recreational purposes, offering a range of possibilities from informal conversations with friends to life-saving emergency communications.

It is recognized for its role in improving prevention and safety on roads. Some intervention organizations, such as firefighters, the Red Cross and associations, have integrated it into their emergency triggering process and are constantly listening to channel 9, the emmergency channel, in order to be able to intervene quickly in case of a call for help. CB radio is also recognized for its role in road safety, helping drivers avoid accidents and traffic jams by sharing the real-time information. Channels 27 and 19 are also used, respectively for emergency calls and radio guidance by truck drivers and road professionals. It is often used as a backup means of emergency communication in the event of a telephone or network failure, or where other means of communication are not available.

In short, CB radio is a reliable and accessible tool that allows people to connect with each other, communicate and stay safe in various situations.

The use of a CB radio is no longer subject to any licence or tax. However, it is subject to regulations and standards which vary depending on the country. In general, it is regulated by the government and is limited to certain frequency and emission powers to prevent interference with other radio users and ensure the quality of communication.

At the European level, it is imperative to modulate with a device that meets the essential requirements of the European Directive R & TTE No. 1999 / 5 / EC, according to EN 300433 and/or EN 300135: 4 W PEP 40 channels AM/BLU.

In France, CB radio legislation is defined by Decree No.2000-625 of 5 July, 2000, which provides for the use of the band of frequencies reserved for amateur radio and mobile radio. The transmissions are carried out legally on 40 fixed channels from 26,965 MHz to 27,405 MHz. The use of the CB is authorized without a licence, but CB radio devices must be approved and comply with current standards. CB radio must also be used responsibly and should not be used to transmit messages of a defamatory, racist, violent nature or that affect the dignity of the person. Advertising or commercial messages are also prohibited. Finally, it is recommended to respect the courtesy rules and not monopolize the channel or disrupt communications of other users.

It is therefore important to learn about the rules and regulations in force in each country before using this communication device and to respect these rules to ensure the safe and responsible use of the CB.

The CB radio channels are radio frequencies reserved for the use of the CB. In France, the CB radio frequency band is located between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz, as in the United States and other countries. It is divided into 40 channels spaced 10kHz from each other, covering the entire frequency band allocated to the CB.

The CB channels are numbered from 1 to 40. It is important to select the appropriate channel for your communication with a CB radio, so as not to interfere with other users.

The CB channels in France are distributed as follows:

  • Channel 9: emergency channel
  • Channel 19: priority channel
  • Other channels: free channels

It was in April 1996 that Albert BERTRANA, technical director of the PRESIDENT Group, presented exclusively worldwide to the specialized press an automatic adjustment device called "Automatic Squelch Control" (ASC). The Automatic Squelch Control (ASC) is an automatic Squelch level setting device based on the quality of the signal received, thus eliminating the background noise.

The Squelch (or silencer) is a feature that can be found on all radio-CB receivers. This function allows to eliminate virtually all background noise in the absence of communication. Indeed, the level of radio background noise is not constant and varies depending on time and location. This is a setting that needs to be done with precision and repeated frequently, so as not to diminish the reception capacity of the station.

The CSA therefore conducts a permanent evaluation of the received signal and the existing noise, and it is the signal/noise report obtained that determines the receiver's opening or its standby. If the signal received is low and there is a lot of background noise, the CSA increases the level to cut the noise and improve the clarity of the transmission. If the signal is strong and there is little background noise, the CSA lowers the level to allow the signal to pass and make the transmission audible.

This device, which uses CMS and microelectronics, is present on all CB radios. It avoids manual settings and constant noise level checks, but also improves reception quality. Radio-CB, which has always been a safety element on board vehicles, sees this quality increased as drivers will no longer have to make manual adjustments or noise level checks, as the CSA watches for them. The CSA thus facilitates the understanding of the messages transmitted. This can be particularly useful in situations where there is a lot of background noise and where it is important to be able to communicate clearly and accurately.

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ECO-FRIENDLY means that the products are environmentally friendly. PRESIDENT ELECTRONICS is committed to environmental protection. Eco-friendly label (or ecological) is a term used to describe products that are designed to minimize their impact on the environment. These products are usually made from recycled materials and are designed to be easily recyclable or durable compostable. The use of eco-friendly products can help reduce the impact of man on the environment and to preserve natural resources for future generations.

The selection of our components, combined with high technology, will ensure greater longevity of your device. The PRESIDENT radios do not contain any prohibited substances (RoHS2), nor components with planned obsolescence. This allows a reduction in the return rate (< 0.001%) and the waste production rate.

 

RoHs General conditions